SERMON V.

HAMAN and MORDECAI.

ESTHER V. 13.

Yet all this availeth me nothing, fo long as I fee Mordecai the Jew fitting at the King's gate.

IN

N thefe words complained Haman, the favourite of Abafuerus the King of Perfia. This powerful prince had raised him up from a mean eftate to the highest rank and dignity; conferred on him peculiar honours, and distinguished him from all the nobles and princes of his court. In this exalted condition he was reverenced by all, excepting Mordecai the few; who refolutely declined the expected homage. To inquire after the cause of this fingular disrespect, would be lofs of time; as being a point of mere curiofity, and no confequence. Whatever Mordecai's

decai's reafons might be, we find Haman highly incensed at him. The indignity appeared fo great, and the affront fo heinous, that he was not content to mark out the offender alone as an object of vengeance. This he judged not fufficient satisfaction; and therefore meditated a more ample revenge, by destroying all the Jews in the kingdom. This refolution, unjuft and cruel as it was, was brought very near the point of execution; and would, in all probability, have been accomplished, had not Providence remarkably interpofed, and turned the intended ruin on his own head.

From hence we might take a proper occafion of confidering the miferable influences of pride and ambition; which intoxicate men's minds with high conceits, make them infolent and outrageous, and willing to burst all the bonds of humanity, on the slightest and most trivial occafions. They lose all patience, when any thing ftands in their way, or tends to reduce those swelling ideas which they form of themselves. From hence likewife we might obferve the pernicious effects of ungoverned rage; which being once kindled, often mounts into a mighty flame, and spreads deftruction far and wide.-We might also take notice, from the event of

this hiftory, of the juftice and wisdom of divine Providence; which confounds the devices of the crafty, and condemns them to fall into thofe very fnares which they lay for others. Though this life be not properly a ftate of retribution; yet it affords many instances of vengeance providentially executed on those who give themselves up to unrighteous measures and inhuman practices. -These and the like reflections might be drawn from the incidents of this hiftorical paffage. But I fhall confine myself at present to the two following obfervations, which more immediately arife from the declaration in my text.

Firft then I obferve, that however kind. Providence may have been to us, it frequently happens that one fingle misfortune, and that too a gentle one, is fufficient to blast all our bleffings; to make us infenfible of God's goodness, and regardless of his benefits. We may read in the verses foregoing my text what great honours and advantages Haman was poffeffed of. The glory of his riches; the multitude of his children; his promotions and advancement above the rest of the princes; in short, every diftinction, every inftance of favour, that he could wifh, or the king confer. Yet, it seems, all this profperity availed

bim

him nothing, while he had the mortification of being flighted by Mordecai the Jew.-We may wonder perhaps at fuch a turn and tem

per of mind, and even reflect on it with indignation and astonishment; never suspecting that we ourselves are ever chargeable with the like folly and extravagance. But if we examined our own hearts, we should fometimes difcover too near a refemblance. Though we may not poffefs fuch an affluence, nor enjoy fuch dignities and diftinctions; we may nevertheless be really profperous in a lower sphere. We may fhare largely the favours of Providence, and boaft a great variety of bleffings; in which condition it often happens, that one crofs accident gives us more difquiet and discontent, than all our enjoyments can yield fatisfaction. These are all overlooked for a time, and our thoughts wholly employed in ruminating on the other. On fuch occafions we indulge a foolish vexation, and are apt to think with Jonah, that we do well to be angry. But,

Secondly, not real misfortunes only produce fuch effects, even imaginary ones are frequently fufficient for that purpose. Had Haman incurred fome grievous disaster, some dire calamity, we should lefs have wondered, and more easily have accounted for the dif

turbance

turbance it gave him. But furely this was not his cafe. If his was really a misfortune, it was a misfortune of his own making. For what evil had befallen him, excepting the fmart of his own folly? His mind was galled. by a fecret wish, which he knew not how to accomplish; and if he had, no good confequence of any kind was to be expected; but in all probability much damage and difadvantage. What he fo earnestly and pasfionately wished, was only the gratification of a proud infolent humour: and yet it seems, without this, he could neither enjoy himfelf, nor any thing that belonged to him. All his good fortune was vanished out of his fight, and wealth, honour, grandeur, availed him nothing.-Such a difpofition, and fuch a conduct, however ftrange they may feem, are not uncommon among men. When we are in adverfity, we are generally reftlefs, impatient, full of anxieties and complaints; and when we rife above it, and our circumstances are improved, it is oftentimes done to very little purpose. Whatever our condition be, fomething or other is commonly wanting to fatisfy our minds, and fet them at reft. When we are preffed with indigence and hardship, we are apt to think if we could but emerge, and once lift our VOL. I.

G

heads